This cat knows about big fish

June 03, 2012

Photo provided,

Never doubt Rodney Akey when he says he's gonna catch you a big one.

Just ask his buddy, Will Skalla.

"Will likes his bluegill fishing, but I prefer bigger fish," said Akey, a catfish specialist. "I told him that bluegills were for women and children, and that if he would come with me I'd show him what big fish look like."

So, on May 22, the Niles anglers headed to the St. Joseph River below Berrien Springs dam. About 8 p.m., Akey's line began to move. He let the fish run a bit, set the hook and the battle was on.

Thirty minutes later, the two men wrestled a 49-pound, 8-ounce flathead catfish onto the bank.

It shattered the Michigan state record of 47-8 that was set in 1943. It might have weighed more, but it lay in a tub of water overnight and died before Akey could find certified scales that were strong enough to handle it.

Advertisement

Akey drove the fish to the DNR fisheries station in Plainwell, Mich., the next day to get it certified and the record confirmed by state officials.

"I knew it was a state record when I caught it," he said. "I caught a 42-pounder a couple of years ago and I knew this was pushing the record."

In fact, after he and Skalla landed the record fish, he broke off two more that were definite heavyweights.

"They are so strong you can't turn them around until they let you," he explained. "I've had nights when I've caught 20 cats weighing between 20 and 35 pounds, plus got my line broken numerous times that same night. The whole river is full of giant cats."

He fishes with heavy duty spinning tackle and 30-pound Trilene Big Game monofilament line. He uses a 6/0 Gamakatsu Octopus hook and weights his rig with a 2-ounce sinker that he casts to the edge of the current in 14 feet of water.

"There are a lot of snags in the river, so I never move the bait," he said. "I just let it sit and let the catfish find it. Otherwise, you get snagged."

He declined to mention the type of livebait he uses, only to say it's 5 to 6 inches long and that the cats love it.

"Everyone else uses bluegills down there but I get a lot more bites than they do," he said.

Flatheads grow in excess of 100 pounds and will live 20 years or more. The all-tackle world record is 123 pounds caught from a Kansas reservoir.

Akey says he fishes for all fish, depending upon what's in season and when they are most active. He says the catfish are grouped this time of year, but added that you can catch big ones from the river all season. His 42 pounder was caught in October.

"Every year I get cracked off by a big fish and left to wonder just how big it was," he said with a smile. "This time, I won."

Big bass caught

John Herczeg of South Bend caught a 7-pound largemouth from Worster Lake in Potato Creek State Park this week.

The 24-year-old angler was casting a weightless, white Zoom Trick Worm outside the lily pads while wading early Tuesday morning. The fish measured 23.5 inches. He was fishing with 6-pound Fireline on spinning tackle.

Perch seminar

The Michiana Steelheaders will host a perch fishing seminar Wednesday at the DeAmici's Club in Mishawaka.

The free program, open to the public, begins at 7:30 p.m. Topics to be discussed include how to locate yellow perch in the Great Lakes and bait/rigging applications. Door prizes will be available.

DU youth day

The St. Joseph Valley Chapter of Ducks Unlimited will host a free Kids Day Event at St. Patrick's County Park in South Bend June 16.

The program is open to all youths. Youngsters will participate in banding geese, crafts and a hands-on conservation program. There will be a dog retrieving demonstration and a hot dog lunch will be provided.